Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 2/4/2005

Question
In the Bible, "unbeliever" is stated a few times. Does this mean someone who loses belief in their spouse, a sacrament, or is it strictly meant to be belief in God? Or can it mean any of these?

Answer
Hi Madonna,

Thanks for this great question.  The term unbeliever is used only four times in the Bible and all of those are in the plural.  Here are the four verses:

Luke 12:46
46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.  
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

1 Corinthians 6:6
6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

1 Corinthians 14:23
23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

2 Corinthians 6:14
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

An unbeliever is one who has not trusted in Jesus to save him from his sin.  It is possible to believe about Jesus...but to be trusting in your own works to get to Heaven.  A believer is one who has turned from his own dead works and turned to Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross as the only means of salvation.

Hebrews 6:1

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,  
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Acts 16:31
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

I hope that this helps.

In Christ,
Pastor Don